Rear end collision prevention apparatus
First Claim
1. A rear end collision prevention apparatus, comprising in combination:
- a signal detection circuit configured for detecting a signal from one or more of a plurality of slowing events in a vehicle that is moving;
(1) releasing of an accelerator pedal or throttle control in the moving vehicle;
(2) disengaging a cruise control mechanism previously set and in use in the moving vehicle;
(3) engaging a brake pedal in the moving vehicle;
(4) receiving an input from a front end monitor in the moving vehicle, wherein the front end monitor automatically detects when a front portion of the moving vehicle comes within a pre-determined distance of another moving vehicle or stopped vehicle in front of the moving vehicle or within a certain distance of a solid object in front of the moving vehicle;
(5) receiving an input from a rear end monitor, wherein the rear end monitor automatically detects when a second vehicle comes within a pre-determined distance of a rear portion of the moving vehicle;
or (6) receiving an input from steering device indicating a large movement in the steering device;
a signal generation circuit connected to the signal detection circuit and connected to a first warning light and a second warning light and configured for generating a first signal to turn on the first warning light within a first pre-determined time of one or more of the plurality of slowing events and to turn on the second warning light within a second pre-determined time of turning on the first warning light and for generating a third signal to turn on the first warning light and the second warning light simultaneously;
the first warning light installed in a rear portion of the vehicle including a directional strobe light installed to be only visible and viewable by only a second vehicle directly behind the moving vehicle, wherein the first warning light provides a first type of visual information that attracts a frontal vision or peripheral vision focus point of a driver driving the second vehicle behind the moving vehicle; and
the second warning light installed in the rear portion of the vehicle within a pre-determined distance of the first warning light including a static display light also installed to be only viewable by only the second vehicle directly behind the moving vehicle, wherein the second warning light provides a second type of visual information indicating that the moving vehicle has not yet resumed a previous moving speed after the one or more of the plurality of slowing events detected by the signal detection circuit, thereby holding a visual attention of the driver driving the second vehicle behind the moving vehicle,the rear end collision prevention apparatus reducing or preventing rear end collisions of vehicles and reducing or preventing driver acclimatization to rear end collision lights.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A rear end collision apparatus. The rear end collision apparatus includes a first warning light to capture a driver'"'"'s attention indicating a slow down or stop event is about to occur or is occurring and re-focuses a drivers'"'"' visual attention point and a different type of second warning light indicating the vehicle has not yet started re-accelerating after a slowing or stop event. The rear end collision prevention apparatus may be integrated into a Center High Mount Stop Lamp (CHMSL) on a vehicle or used as a separate apparatus. The read end collision apparatus helps reduce or prevent rear end collisions of vehicles and reducing or preventing driver acclimatization to warning lights in a CHMSL or other rear end collision warning lights.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A rear end collision prevention apparatus, comprising in combination:
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a signal detection circuit configured for detecting a signal from one or more of a plurality of slowing events in a vehicle that is moving; (1) releasing of an accelerator pedal or throttle control in the moving vehicle;
(2) disengaging a cruise control mechanism previously set and in use in the moving vehicle;
(3) engaging a brake pedal in the moving vehicle;
(4) receiving an input from a front end monitor in the moving vehicle, wherein the front end monitor automatically detects when a front portion of the moving vehicle comes within a pre-determined distance of another moving vehicle or stopped vehicle in front of the moving vehicle or within a certain distance of a solid object in front of the moving vehicle;
(5) receiving an input from a rear end monitor, wherein the rear end monitor automatically detects when a second vehicle comes within a pre-determined distance of a rear portion of the moving vehicle;
or (6) receiving an input from steering device indicating a large movement in the steering device;a signal generation circuit connected to the signal detection circuit and connected to a first warning light and a second warning light and configured for generating a first signal to turn on the first warning light within a first pre-determined time of one or more of the plurality of slowing events and to turn on the second warning light within a second pre-determined time of turning on the first warning light and for generating a third signal to turn on the first warning light and the second warning light simultaneously; the first warning light installed in a rear portion of the vehicle including a directional strobe light installed to be only visible and viewable by only a second vehicle directly behind the moving vehicle, wherein the first warning light provides a first type of visual information that attracts a frontal vision or peripheral vision focus point of a driver driving the second vehicle behind the moving vehicle; and the second warning light installed in the rear portion of the vehicle within a pre-determined distance of the first warning light including a static display light also installed to be only viewable by only the second vehicle directly behind the moving vehicle, wherein the second warning light provides a second type of visual information indicating that the moving vehicle has not yet resumed a previous moving speed after the one or more of the plurality of slowing events detected by the signal detection circuit, thereby holding a visual attention of the driver driving the second vehicle behind the moving vehicle, the rear end collision prevention apparatus reducing or preventing rear end collisions of vehicles and reducing or preventing driver acclimatization to rear end collision lights. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A rear end collision prevention apparatus, comprising in combination:
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a signal detection circuit configured for detecting a signal from a slowing event in a vehicle that is moving including releasing of an accelerator pedal or throttle control in the moving vehicle; a signal generation circuit connected to the signal detection circuit and connected to a first warning light and a second warning light and configured for generating a first signal to turn on the first warning light within a first pre-determined time of the slowing event and to turn on the second warning light within a second pre-determined time of turning on the first warning light and for generating a third signal to turn on the first warning light and the second warning light simultaneously; the first warning light installed in a rear portion of the vehicle including a directional strobe light installed to be only visible and viewable by only a second vehicle directly behind the moving vehicle, wherein the first warning light provides a first type of visual information that attracts a frontal vision or peripheral vision focus point of a driver driving the second vehicle behind the moving vehicle; and the second warning light installed in the rear portion of the vehicle within a pre-determined distance of the first warning light including a static display light also installed to be only viewable by only the second vehicle directly behind the moving vehicle, wherein the second warning light provides a second type of visual information indicating that the moving vehicle has not yet resumed a previous moving speed after the slowing event detected by the signal detection circuit, thereby holding a visual attention of the driver driving the second vehicle behind the moving vehicle, the rear end collision prevention apparatus reducing or preventing rear end collisions of vehicles and reducing or preventing driver acclimatization to rear end collision lights.
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19. A method for rear end collision prevention for a moving vehicle, comprising:
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detecting on a signal detection circuit on a rear end collision prevention apparatus a slowing event indicating that a moving vehicle is de-accelerating, the rear end collision apparatus comprising in combination; a signal detection circuit configured for detecting a signal from one or more of a plurality of slowing events in the moving vehicle, a signal generation circuit connected to the signal detection circuit and connected to a first warning light and a second warning light and configured for generating a first signal to turn on the first warning light within a first pre-determined time of one or more of the plurality of slowing events and to turn on the second warning light within a second pre-determined time of turning on the first warning light and for generating a third signal to turn on the first warning light and the second warning light simultaneously, the first warning light installed in a rear portion of the vehicle including a directional strobe light installed to be only visible and viewable by only a second vehicle directly behind the moving vehicle, wherein the first warning light provides a first type of visual information that attracts a frontal vision or peripheral vision focus point of a driver driving the second vehicle behind the moving vehicle, the second warning light installed in the rear portion of the vehicle within a pre-determined distance of the first warning light including a static display light also installed to be only viewable by only the second vehicle directly behind the moving vehicle, wherein the second warning light provides a second type of visual information indicating that the moving vehicle has not yet resumed a previous moving speed after the one or more of the plurality of slowing events detected by the signal detection circuit; automatically activating on the signal generation circuit on the rear end collision prevention apparatus the first warning light indicating the moving vehicle has entered the detected slowing event wherein the first warning light attracts a frontal vision or peripheral vision focus point of a driver driving the second vehicle behind the moving vehicle; detecting on the signal detection circuit on the rear end collision prevention apparatus a second slow event indicating that the moving vehicle is not re-accelerating after the slowing event; and automatically activating on the signal generation circuit on the rear end collision prevention apparatus the second warning light indicating that the moving vehicle is not yet re-accelerating after the slowing event, wherein the second warning light provides a second type of visual information indicating that the moving vehicle has not yet resumed a previous moving speed, thereby reducing or preventing rear end collisions of vehicles and reducing or preventing driver acclimatization to rear end collision lights. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification